FOR CONTEXT, HERE ARE THE STANDARDS FOR THE XR NITROX COURSE:
Extended Range Nitrox Diving
I. Intent
The SSI Extended Range Nitrox Diving program provides divers with the training necessary to independently plan and
conduct limited decompression dives to a maximum depth of 40 meters, using nitrox mixtures of up to 50% and Extended
Range Total Diving Systems and procedures with an equally- or more-qualified buddy.
II. Minimum Instructor Rating
An active status Extended Range Nitrox Diving Instructor may conduct the Extended Range Nitrox Diving program.
Equipment Congurations
• They may use a Twinset Total Diving System as outlined in the SSI Training Standards if they have the Extended
Range Instructor certification with the Twinset configuration.
• They may use an Extended Range Sidemount Total Diving System as outlined in the SSI Training Standards if
they have the Extended Range Sidemount Instructor certification.
III. Student Prerequisites
• Minimum age: 16 years old.
Have logged at least:
• 24 total dives
Have the following SSI certications or an equivalent from a recognized training agency:
• Deep Diving
• Enriched Air Nitrox 40
For students using a sidemount conguration (in addition to the above):
Have the following SSI certifications or an equivalent from a recognized training agency:
• Recreational Sidemount Diving
IV. Duration
• Recommended hours for completion: 16.
V. Minimum Equipment
Students participating in this program must use at least one of the following equipment congurations:
• A complete Single-Cylinder Total Diving System as outlined in the XR General Training Standards.
• A complete Twinset Total Diving System.
• A complete Sidemount Total Diving System.
Including:
• One (1) stage cylinder.
VI. In-Water Ratios
• The student-to-instructor ratio is 4:1.
VII. Depth Limitations
50 (C) SSI International GmbH, 2020
• Maximum pool/confined water depth limit: 12 meters.
• Maximum depth limit for Open Water Training Dives 1 and 2: 30 meters.
• Depth range for Open Water Training Dives 3 and 4: 30 to 40 meters.
• At least one (1) dive must be to a depth of 35 meters.
VIII. Requirements For Completion
• Complete all academic sessions and assessments as outlined in the instructor manual for Extended Range.
• Complete the program’s final exam.
• Independently plan a full dive plan using the Extended Range Dive Planning sheets.
• Complete at least one (1) pool/confined water skill development session lasting at least one (1) hour as
outlined in the instructor manual for Extended Range.
• Complete at least four (4) open water training dives as outlined in the instructor manual for Extended Range.
a. Notes
• Open Water Training Dives 1 and 2 must be planned within the no-decompression limits of the student’s dive
computer, dive planning software, or the SSI Combined Air/EAN Tables.
• Actual staged decompression training must be conducted on Open Water Training Dives 3 and 4, and any
remaining training dives.
• The total time for all required stage stops must not exceed 15 minutes per dive, based on back gas
decompression profile.
• Divers are not allowed to accelerate the decompression plan.
• Divers may carry a decompression mixture of up to 50% oxygen.
IX. Sequence
• Open Water Training Dives 1 and 2 may only be conducted after the student successfully completes the
equipment configuration session and all pool/confined water skill development sessions.
• Open Water Training Dives 3 and 4 may only be conducted after the student successfully completes all
academic sessions and Open Water Training Dives 1 and 2.
X. Certication
Extended Range Nitrox Diving certification entitles the holder to dive with an equally- or more-qualified buddy, on dives
using the equipment configuration used during training and extended range procedures to depths of up to 40 meters, and
requiring staged decompression stops of no longer than 15 minutes based on a back gas profile; providing that dives are
conducted in environments similar to those of the diver’s training and experience.
XI. Credit
Extended Range Nitrox Diving students may credit dives in this program to Open Water Training Dives 1 through 4 of the
Extended Range program, providing that the program was successfully completed in a Twinset Total Diving System or
Extended Range Sidemount Total Diving System. If Extended Range Nitrox Diving was completed in a Single-Cylinder Total
Diving System only academic credit for the Extended Range Nitrox Diving portion of the program can be given